Methods and means for moving heavy cable reels and the like



17957 J. BOGDANOWSKI 2,804,223

METHODS AND MEANS FOR MOVING HEAVY CABLE REELS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I8 k 5 l8 Figl E5! A J'H w lll n n ll l|' lllll IT I I I; I

ll mlh ll lhni INVENTOR. JOHN BOGDANOWSKI I0 22 ATTORNEYS 1957 J. BOGDANOWSKI 2,804,223

METHODS AND MEANS FOR MOVING HEAVY CABLE REELS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I 'INVENT JOHN BOGDANO 1 00m QWXQMQSIAW DMM @Mmumm ATTORN EYS United States Patent Gffice 2,804,223 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 METHODS AND MEANS FOR MOVING HEAVY CABLE REELS AND THE LIKE John Bogdanowski, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 16, 1955, Serial No. 534,773

4 Claims. (Cl. 214-330) This invention relates to methods and means for rolling from place to place in predetermined directions heavy cable reels and the like, such for example as reels upon which heavy lengths of power cables are wound and carried.

Such cable reels which are generally formed with circular end pieces or flanges may readily be rolled from place to place along a straight path, but since they generally weigh hundreds of pounds it is a diflicult task for workmen to roll them along any desired curved or irregular paths, particularly since they are too heavy to permit manual lifting of either end to change the direction of rolling, and if a block or the like is so placed as to obstruct rolling of one of the flanges to thereby deflect the direction of rolling, then friction against such a block will be so great as also to prevent the other flange at the opposite end of the reel from being conveniently rolled along.

The present invention, however, provides a relatively simple, convenient and inexpensive means and method for overcoming the above noted difliculties and whereby workmen may easily roll even the heaviest reels of power cable and the like along any desired predetermined path and easily change the direction from time to time.

Essentially the invention involves applying rolling pressure against the reel, that is to say, against oneof the reel flanges or ends so that same will come into engagement with and rest against or upon a quite small freely rotatable roller and then additionally come into engagement with a somewhat larger freely rotatable roller. These rotatable rollers will then permit the reel flange engaged thereby to roli thereon without frictional obstruction against the ground or other supporting surface and so that the lower portion of this flange or end of the reel will not advance but in effect will skid or slip circumferentially backwards with respect to the ground and meanwhile, since the reel as a whole then may be more or less freely turned with respect to its axis, its other end or flange will be free to roll along the ground, but along a curved path. The device for carrying out this method preferably comprises a portableframe member which may be placed upon the ground or other supporting surface just in advance of one of the reel flanges and which frame carries the freely rotatable rollers for engaging the reel flange or end. Preferably the device includes one of the smaller rollers at each end, that is, at each side of the somewhat larger roller so that when the device is moved about by a convenient handle means pivotably connected at one side thereof, the operator may stand facing one end of the reel and place the device on either side of the reel flange depending on the direction in which the reel is to be rolled.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same device;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the same device;

Figs. 4 and 5 respectively are vertical sectional views taken substantially along hues 44 and 55 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating how the invention may be used in practice.

Referring to the drawings in further detail, a supporting frame for the device may be provided and comprising a base plate 10 having upstanding side portions 11 and 12. This frame carries a freely rotatable roller 13 having axle portions 14 extending through apertures 15 formed in the sides 11 and 12 of the frame. Suitable cotter pins as at 16, if desired, may be inserted through transverse holes in the ends of the axle portions 14 for insuring that the parts will be retained in their proper relative positions while the roller 13 is rotating.

At each end portion of the device two relatively much smaller and freely rotatable rollers respectively as indicated at 17 may be mounted on axle portions as at 18 received in frame apertures 15, these axle portions being retained in place if desired with respect to the frame by cotter pins 19.

As shown, it will be noted that each of the rollers 13 and 17 is preferably mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis and the axes thereof are preferably all parallel to each other.

Since it will be necessary to move the device conveniently and promptly from place to place as a cable reel is being rolled about, it is desirable to provide a suitable handle means permitting the workman to not only carry the device about and to position same without stooping but also to enable him to retain the device against displacement as it is engaged by the reel flange. Also it is of importance that the handle means be of such form or so connected that as the heavy pressure of the cable reel engages the device and perhaps knocks same out of proper position, the handle will not fly up and injure the workman. To meet these requirements, preferably one side of the frame for the device, for example the side indicated at 12, is formed with a pair of apertured lugs 20 for rotatably receiving a rod portion 22 which in turn at its mid-point is integrally formed with handle means 21 which extends outwardly and upwardly to a point for convenient grasping by the workman. The ends of the rods 22 may be retained in place as by cotter pins 23. With this form of handle means, it will be noted that if, for example, pressure of the reel should suddenly depress the left-hand side portions of the device as shown in Fig. 1, then the handle 21 may still be firmly and safely held by the workman as it will not tend to swing upwardly since the rod portion 22 is free to turn with respect to the lugs 20. Yet, notwithstanding the pivotable connection of the rod portion 22, the device can be conveniently moved about by the handle and the handle can be used to adjust the position of the rollers 13 and 17 in parallel relation to the axis of the cable reel.

When using the device, it is placed in front of one of the ends or flanges of the cable reel, shortly in advance thereof, as shown in Fig. 6, whereupon as a workman applies pressure to the reel so as to roll it in a desired direction, the momentum of the reel will cause one flange of the reel to ride upon one of the small rollers 17 and then more or less upon the larger roller 13. Thus the reel flange 25 will be relativelyv freely rotatable with respect to the ground or other supporting surface. And thus the other reel flange 26 will also be free to roll along the ground but along a curved path, such as indicated by the dash line in Fig. 6. As soon as the direction of roll of the reel has been changed to the desired extent, then the device may be readily removed without the necessity of lifting the reel manually or otherwise. Since the rollers 13 and 17 are freely rotatable they will not tend to jam in place under the reel flange.

With the provision of one of the smaller rollers 17 at What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Method for rolling heavy reels of cable and the like from place to place and along a path deviating in a predetermined direction from a straight line, which method comprises placing in front of one edge or flange of the reel on the side thereof toward which the deviation is desired, a small rotatably mounted roller and also a somesame in the desired general direction and to bring said edge or flange into contact first with said small roller and then also with said somewhat larger roller and whereby the lower portion of said edge or flange is then sufliciently supported by said rollers to slip circumferentially in a backward direction with respect to the ground or other supporting surface, while the opposite flange or edge of the reel rolls forward along a path which is generally curved toward the desired direction of deviation and centered about the region of said rollers.

2. A device adapted to be .placed in front'ofone of the flanges or edges of heavy reels of cable and the like for the purpose of facilitating rolling of the reel along a path deviating from a straight line, said device comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a relatively small roller mounted to be freely rotatable on said frame about a horizontal axis and a somewhat larger roller mounted to be also freely rotatable on said frame on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said small roller and in 3. A device adapted to be placed in front of one of the flanges or edges of heavy reels of cable and the like for the purpose of facilitating rolling of the reel alonga path deviating from a straight line, said device comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a relatively small,

roller mounted to be freely rotatable on said frame about a substantially horizontal axis and a somewhat larger roller mounted to be also freely rotatable on said frame on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said small roller and in advance thereof, said rollers providing means for supporting one flange or edge of the cable reel to permit such flange or edgeto slip circumferentially in a backward direction with respect to the ground or other supporting surface while the other flange or edge of the reel rolls along a path in the desired direction of deviation.

4. A device adapted to be placed in front of one of the flanges or edges of heavy reels of cable and the like for the purpose of facilitating rolling of the reel along a path deviating from a straight line, said device comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a relatively small roller mounted to be freely rotatable on said frame about a substantially horizontal axis and a somewhat larger roller mounted to 'be also freely rotatable on said frame on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said small roller and in advance thereof, handle means extending outwardly from one side of the frame, and another similar small roller similarly mounted on the frame but in advance of said larger roller, one of said small rollers in conjunction with said larger roller providing means for supporting one flange or edge of the cable reel to permit such flange or edge to slip circumferentially in a backward direction with respect to the ground or other supporting surface while the other flange or edge of the reel rolls along a path in the desired direction of deviation, and the other small roller being similarly adapted to cooperate with the larger roller when the device is placed by use of the handle in front of the opposite flange or edge of the reel for causing deviation in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES "PATENTS 

